CityLife | Editorial Photographer Cairns | The Feed Shop

Love of the Job Comes Naturally | The Feed Shop

Michelle Lavington doesn’t just love animals, she loves making sure they are being well taken care of, which is one of the reasons why The Feed Shop has become such a successful and popular business.

Michelle started the Gordonvale shop eight years ago with a part-time staff member. Today, she has a staff of eight, including her husband who left his job in the Navy to work in the businesses.
The Feed Shop has a huge range of quality stock feed as well as a large selection of pet food and supplies for horses, cats, dogs, chickens, fish and even reptiles. It also stocks a range of saddlery goods, veterinary products, electric fence supplies and clothing.

Michelle, who has had horses her whole entire life and was surrounded by pets growing up, decided to start the business after being made redundant by an employer she had been with for 11 years.
“I had no background in business whatsoever,” said Michelle, who was a finalist in the 2014 Cairns Business Women’s Club awards. “I had been a customer of other stock feed shops in Cairns, and saw a need for a store in Gordonvale, so I thought I’d open my own store.”

“We hit the ground running and have got somewhat larger than I ever expected.”

Old-fashioned attentive customer service, welcoming staff trained with exceptional product knowledge and a fantastic home-delivery pet food service adds to the popularity of the shop.
While she loves animals (she has horses, goats, chickens, cats and dogs at home), she’s equally passionate about supporting community activities and ensures The Feed Shop sponsors, donates and supports various community groups.

“I believe in immersing yourself in the community because community spirit is very important,” she said. “We take a great deal of pride in supporting our community.”